Boxing News - Latest Headlines

By Ken Hissner: At the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, over Fox PPV, Tom Brown presented in the Main Event former Olympian and WBC World Heavyweight champ Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder scored a first round knockout over Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius. In the co-feature former IBF World Super Middle champ Caleb “Sweethands” Plant and former WBC World Super Middle champ Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell. 

In the Main Event Olympian and former WBC Heavy champ Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder, 43-2-1 (42), #214 ½, of Tuscaloosa, AL, knocked out Robert “The Nordic Nightmare” Helenius, 31-4 (20), #253 ¼, of Aland Island, FIN, at 2:57 of the first round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first round Helenius kept coming forward out landing Wilder for what little punches were landed. While having his back to the ropes suddenly a right from Wilder on the nose of Helenius and down and out he went without a count from Referee Michael Griffin.

In the co-feature former IBF Super Middle champ Caleb “Sweethands” Plant, 22-1 (13), #167 ¼, of Las Vegas, NEV, knocked out former WBC Super Middle champ Anthony “The Dog” Dirrell, 34-3-2 (25), #167 ¾, of Flint, MI, at 1:36 of the ninth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the first two rounds Plant outworked Dirrell. In the third round Dirrell warned for a low blow while in a clinch by Referee Harvey Dock again. In the fourth round Dirrell finally did enough to take his first round.

In the fifth round Plant landed a hard left hook to the chin of Dirrell halfway through the round taking the round. In the sixth round Plant continued scoring well with Dirrell at the end of the round running back to his corner.

In the eighth round Plant did well going to the body taking the past four rounds. In the ninth round a double left from Plant to the body and chin and down went Dirrell and out! 

Heavyweight Frank “The Cuban Flash” Sanchez, 21-0 (14), of Cuba and Miami, FL, stopped Olympian Carlos Negron, 25-4 (20), of Villalba, PR and Miami, FL, at 2:15 of the ninth round of a scheduled 10 rounds.

In the first two rounds Sanchez had the edge over Sanchez. In the third Negron came back well. In the fifth round a solid right from Sanchez on the chin stunned Negron but the latter out landed him overall. In the sixth round Sanchez landed a solid right drawing blood from the nose of Negron.

In the seventh round it was all Sanchez having Negron following him and being countered. In the eighth round Negron suffered a cut on top of his nose that was checked by the ring physician between rounds. In the ninth round a right from Sanchez on the chin and Negron went halfway through the ropes and down for an 8-count from referee Ricky Gonzalez. Sanchez followed up with a flurry of punches causing the stoppage. 

Bantam southpaw Gary Antonio Russell, 19-1 (12), of Wash., DC, lost by technical decision to Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez, 21-2 (13), of Vega Baja, PR, in the ninth round of a scheduled 12 rounds.

In the eighth round Rodriguez dropped Russell with a right on the chin for an 8-count. In the ninth round a clash of heads caused a cut on Rodriguez who couldn’t continue so they went to the scorecards. 

Scores 100-90 and 99-91 twice.

Super Welter Vito “White Majic” Mielnicki, Jr., 13-1 (8),  of Roseland, NJ, won a decision over Limberth “El Gallito” Ponce, 19-6 (11), of MEX and Rock Island, IL, over 10 rounds.

Scores were 98-92 and 99-91 twice.